Separable plug



C. A. VETTER.

SEPARA-BLE PLUG.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7. 191a.

Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

INVENTOR WITNESSES llll All

tllhAldENClEl A. "VETTERQOF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, AS'SIGNOF, TU FEST" FLECTRTU COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

naaaova Specification of To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CLARENCE A. VETTER, a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Separable Plugs, of, which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to separable attachment plugs, such as are used for making connection from any portable electric device to a lamp socket, or other similar source of current. The object is to provide a separable plug embodying the usual body member and cap which, when coupled to each other are held securely, but which may be easily disengaged by an outward or lateral pull on the cap, without injury to the lug or detachment of the cords from their inding osts. A further object is to provide a separable attachment plug the members of which may be connected to each other by relative longitudinal movement, resulting in a secure locking together, but which may be easily disconnected by any withdrawin movement of the cap. A further object Is to provide a separable attachment plug in which the contact members are simple in construction, integral with the base, rigidly attached thereto, or molded therein. A further object is to provide a separable attachment plug in which the terminal members. carried by the cap will, form a spring-pressed contact with the terminal contact members carried by the base, and which will have means for engaging the two parts independent of the contact members, the contact members forming merely a wiping contact without any latch or positive engagement. Another object is to provide a separable attachment plug in which the base will be made of an enveloping ma terial carrying merely metal contact strips;

. thus providing a device which canbe manu- IliSlJCllZlllBd very cheaply. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those familiar with such 100K1- structions. Y

Reterring to the drawings, which show an embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a plan view of the base with the cap removed; Fig. Q is a central vertical section through the cap and base in locked position, on the line 2-2 or Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a central ver SEPARAIBLE PLUG.

Letters Patnt- Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

1916. Serial No. 113,511.

tic-al section', on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, shown the locking arrangement; Fig. A 15 an e evation of the base, with the side contact exposed, the cap being in section; F g. 5 11s an under view of the cap; and Flg. 6 is an under view of the entire lug.

Theplug comprises the usual bo y portions, a cap 1, anda base 2. These are made of any suitable insulating material, such as porcelam, hard rubber, or composition. But preferably they are or a material which may be easily molded. The cap has a central opening 3, adapted to receive the conductor cords, and carries metal terminal plates 41:, secured thereto by means of screws 5. These members 4 carry binding posts 6,

adapted to secure the ends of the usual con" ducting cords. Portions of the plate memhere A are bent at right angles to the plate, and extend downward a comparatively short distance in the form of tongues 7, having their ends inclined or beveled. The

base is molded with threads about its lower end, adapted to engage an ordinary lamp socket. It has in its upper portion recesses 8 and 9, into which the terminal tongues 'l' of the cap extend. A metal strip 10 is molded in the base, having its upper end extending into the recess 9, and being slightly bent inward, and having its lower end 11 extending beyond the base and enlarged, as shown in Fig. 6, and bent over the end of the base, covering the central tit) All

area thereof, and forming the central terminal contact of the plug. Another metal strip 12 is molded into the other side of the base, having its inner end extended upward in the recess 8 and slightly bent inwardly. Its outer end 13 extends to the side of the base, and is molded into the surface thereof, forming a longitudinal outer contact for engaging the threaded socket ot the ordinary electrical construction. This strip may be made of any width necessary or may even comprise a complete threaded shell, it desired. a

Molded into the cap are metal members 14, diametrically disposed to the central opening 3. These members are formed with a terminal ball 15, and groove 16, as shown. Correspondingl placed in the base are re cesses, in wh1c spring metal members it? are molded. These members are pressed out All tlti

too

of metal plates, to form a rounded receptacle, with converging edges The metal 1s slit so that the receptacle is formed of a plurality of sections, or tongues, consequently the opening is resilient, and when the balls 15, are pressed toward the recess formed in .this member 17, the tongues thereof spring outward and then close behind the ball to engage the groove 16. This construction is not new and is not itself a part of my invention,'being known in the ordinary glove fastener. However, it furnishes a very desirable form of locking the parts together, permitting an easy locking and unlocking by relative movement. of the cap and base. This means of attachment of cap and base is especially desirable where the plug is used with an electric fixture for table use. Frequently in such cases the plug is disconnected by giving the conductor cord a pull, which may be from any angle. The form of contact members 7, 10 and 12, making merely a wiping con-tact without engagement otherwise, prevents any catching or gripping of these parts when the cap is pulled off by a lateral force. Also the plug may be pushed out of, engagement by the foot. Any movement that tilts the cap will tend'to fulcrum it on an edge and will release the balls from their recesses.

The conductor wires are led through the opening 3 and engaged under the bmding posts 6. When the cap is disengaged, the connections are fully exposed, and the conductors are easily removed. The base is molded to fit the ordinary socket, and when screwed therein it is securely held, the longitudinal metal strip 13 being in direct contact with the threaded shell of the socket, ,and the terminal portion 11 of the strip 10 being in direct connection with the central contact of the socket. hen the .cap is pressed into engagement with the base, the inclined tongues 7 contact with the ends of the spring contact members 10 and 12, which may also be bent Or inclined, and as the tongues move inward this contact is constantly against increasing spring pressure, as .will be obvious. The balls 15 are firmly engaged in the receiving members l7, and the cap is securely held in posi= tion for all normal purposes.

By this construction I have eliminated at large number of parts ordinarily used in separable attachment plugs, have made an integral base, which uses no screws, rivets or other securing means, and which may be formed by one molding operation. The contacts are positive, and there is nothing to come loose or to get out of order. The many advantages ofthe device in operation as well as the economy of construction, and cheapncss of manufacture will be apparent.

1 claim 1. An attachment plug, comprising a cap member, and a base member, terminals -arried by one of said members and contacts carried by the other, and inclosed means independent of the contact members for locking the cap and base together.

2. An attachment plug, comprising a cap member and a base member, terminals carried by the cap and contacts carried by the base, and inclosed means independent of the terminal and contact members for locking the cap and base together.

3. A separable attaclnnent plug, comprising a cap member and, a base member, ter minals carried by the cap and extending into the base, contact members carried by the base and adapted to touch without gripping the terminal members therein, and inclosed means for locking the cap and base together comprising projections on one and spring-controlled recesses on the other.

4. A separable attachment plug, comprising a cap and a threaded base, the cap carrying terminal members adapted to extend into the base, and the base having recesses to receive said terminal members, and contact members molded in the base and adapted to engage without gripping said terminal members, the said contact members comprising metal strips extending to and overlying portions of the tip end and threaded side of the base, respectively.

5. A separable attachment plug, comprising a cap member and a base member, terminals carried by the cap, and contacts carried by the base, said contact members comprising a metal strip having one end molded in the side of the base and conformed to threads therein to form an outer contact, the other contact member being molded in the base with its outer end turned over the portion. of the base to form a central terminal contact for the plug.

6. A separable attachment plug comprising a cap member and a base member, terminals carried by the cap and adapted to contact with similar members carried by the base, said contact members comprising metal strips molded in the base and adapted to form a threaded side contact and a central terminal contact, respectively.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand. 4

CLARENCE A. VETTER.

Witnesses GLENN H. LERESGHE, A. E. JOHNSON. 

